The Common Law (1931 film)

File:Common Law poster.jpg

Valerie West is a young American expatriate living with her wealthy lover Dick Carmedon in Paris. Tired of the relationship, she leaves Carmedon and meets struggling American artist John Neville, for whom she begins posing nude. At first, the relationship is purely business, but Valerie and Neville soon fall in love. They live an idyllic life together.

Valerie does not know that Neville is a member of a wealthy, socially prominent family. Neville's friend Sam tells him about Valerie's past relationship with Carmedon. Valerie confirms the information but states that she had left Carmedon before she met Neville. Disillusioned, Neville changes his mind about proposing to her. Valerie calls him a hypocrite and severs the relationship.

Later, Neville encounters Valerie at a nightclub, where she is out with another man. Neville leaves in disgust but Valerie follows, jumping into his taxi and riding home with him. Soon he proposes marriage, but she asks him to wait, wishing to ensure that their feelings are real before entering a lifelong commitment. When Neville's sister Clare learns about the situation from friends returning from Europe, she lies to Neville, informing him that their father is very ill and insisting that Neville return home.

Valerie accompanies Neville to the family estate. Clare throws a party on the family yacht and invites Carmedon and Neville's former girlfriend. Neville's father tells Valerie that he approves of the relationship, as he sees that his son is happy and more confident. A drunk Carmedon barges into Valerie's stateroom, but she rejects him in full view of Clare. Neville helps Carmedon to his room and punches him. Neville informs Valerie that he wants find a justice of the peace to marry them.

{{div col|colwidth=40em}}

• Constance Bennett as Valerie West
• Joel McCrea as John Neville
• Lew Cody as Dick Carmedon
• Robert Williams as Sam
• Hedda Hopper as Mrs. Clare Collis
• Marion Shilling as Stephanie Brown
• Walter Walker as John Neville, Sr.
• Paul Ellis as Querido
• Yola d'Avril as Fifi
• Emile Chautard as Doorman (uncredited)
• Albert Conti as Strangeways Party Guest (uncredited)
• Carrie Daumery as Strangeways Party Guest (uncredited)
• George Davis as Charles - Dick's Butler (uncredited)
• Julia Swayne Gordon as Mrs. Strangeways (uncredited)
• George Irving as Doctor (uncredited)
• Dolores Murray as Queen at the Ball (uncredited)
• Tom Ricketts as Elderly Party Guest (uncredited)
• Ellinor Vanderveer as Party Guest (uncredited)
• Nella Walker as Yacht Guest (uncredited)

{{div col end}}

Robert W. Chambers' 1911 novel was a bestseller in the 1910s and was called "the most daring piece of writing that Chambers ever turned out."{{cite news|newspaper=The Sedalia Democrat|title=Constance Bennett returns to Liberty in the Greatest Triumph Since Common Clay|date=July 26, 1931|page=14|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/68396901/?terms=%22The%2BCommon%2BLaw%22}}{{Open access}}

The novel had already been made into a film twice during the silent era. The first was produced by Lewis J. Selznick in 1916 and stars Clara Kimball Young and Conway Tearle. Selznick's son Myron Selznick remade the film in 1923, again starring Tearle, but with Corinne Griffith in the lead female role.{{cite web|url= https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/71337/the-common-law#articles-reviews|publisher=Turner Classic Films|title=Film Article: The Common Law|accessdate=January 26, 2024}}

In February 1931, RKO announced its purchase of the rights to Chambers' novel. Constance Bennett was announced as the star, with John Farrow to adapt the screenplay.{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=Pathe Gets "Common Law" as Connie Bennett Film|date=February 11, 1931|page=6|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume555newy#page/366/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} In mid-March, it was announced that Paul L. Stein would direct the film.{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=Hollywood Activities: Connie Bennett Resuming|date=March 15, 1931|page=4|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume555newy#page/638/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} By the end of March, roles were cast for Joel McCrea, Lew Cody, Gilbert Roland, Walter Walker, Marion Shilling and Robert Williams.{{cite news|newspaper=Silver Screen|title=A Little from "Lots"|date=March 30, 1931|page=7|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume555newy#page/772/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} The final major role was cast in April when Hedda Hopper was selected to play Clare.{{cite news|newspaper=Motion Picture Herald|title=On The Dotted Line...|date=April 11, 1931|page=60|url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpictureher103unse#page/n157/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} The Common Law entered production in mid-April 1931. By mid-June, shooting on the film had wrapped.{{cite news |date=June 18, 1931 |title=Pathe Studios Adds Four Sound Stages |page=12 |newspaper=The Film Daily |url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume555newy#page/1572/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}}

During production, a yacht built for American financier E.H. Harriman was employed as the setting for film's climactic scene.{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=Along the Rialto|date=July 19, 1931|page=47|last=Daly|first=Phil M.|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume55657newy#page/150/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} The scene in which Neville meets Valerie one month after she leaves him was set at a nightclub during the famous Four Arts Ball, which was held annually in Paris. Many of the female extras in the scene wore full body makeup because of their scanty costumes.{{cite news|newspaper=Moberly Monitor-Index|title=The Common Law, Starring Constance Bennett, to Open 3-Day Run at Grand Sunday|date=August 15, 1931|page=8|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/34757969/?terms=%22The%2BCommon%2BLaw%22}}{{Open access}} Gwen Wakeling, the head of costuming for RKO, designed the film's costumes.{{cite news |last=Wilk |first=Ralph |date=April 17, 1931 |title=A Little from "Lots" |page=6 |newspaper=The Film Daily |url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume555newy#page/922/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}}

Shilling recalled that Bennett monopolized McCrea's time during the production: "She had a mad crush on Joel McCrea. The rest of us were just pieces of furniture to her. The minute the director yelled cut, Connie would yank Joel to her portable dressing room, bang the door and not reappear until they were again called to the set."Ankerich, Michael G. The Sound of Silence: Conversations with 16 Film and Stage Personalities. McFarland & Company, Inc., Jefferson, NC: 1998. p. 208.

The film's sexual relationships became an issue for the Hays Office, although it was released during the period before enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code.{{cite news |date=July 24, 1931 |title=Riverside Common Law |page=5 |newspaper=The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/49936162/?terms=%22The%2BCommon%2BLaw%22}}{{Open access}}

The film premiered at the Mayfair Theatre in New York on July 17, 1931 and was released nationally the following Friday.{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=Common Law Release July 24|date=July 15, 1931|page=6|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume55657newy#page/122/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} The publisher of Chambers' novel, Grosset & Dunlap, reissued the book as a special edition that featured Bennett on its wrapper, and the books were prominently featured in sales displays to coincide with the film's opening.{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=Exploitettes|date=September 3, 1931|page=7|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume55657newy#page/516/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}}

The New York Times' July 20, 1931, review (bylined L.N.) gives the film short shrift, observing: “All of (it) is familiar to picture-goers of Westchester, and it does not ring any more true than it ever did. Constance Bennett is, of course, very pretty… and Lew Cody is good as the villainous Dick. Joel McCrea seems a bit innocent to be a Parisian art student, but likely the script called for it. Walter Walker is excellent as John's father.”{{Cite news |date=1931-07-20 |title=THE SCREEN; Life in Paris. Apple Blossom Time. In the News. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1931/07/20/archives/the-screen-life-in-paris-apple-blossom-time-in-the-news.html |access-date=2024-02-01 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

The New York Age offered a very positive review, calling Bennett's performance "matchless."{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Age|title=Roosevelt Theatre|date=September 12, 1931|page=6|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/40793732/?terms=%22The%2BCommon%2BLaw%22}}{{Open access}} While praising the performances of Bennett and McCrea The Film Daily wrote a lukewarm review, stating that "... the story itself doesn't produce much of a dramatic punch due to lots of talk and little action."{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=The Common Law|date=July 19, 1931|page=10|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume55657newy#page/158/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} The Reading Times praised the film, calling Bennett "superb" and the rest of the cast "excellent."{{cite news|newspaper=Reading Times|title=Constance Bennett at the Capitol|date=August 19, 1931|page=12|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/48180664/?terms=%22The%2BCommon%2BLaw%22}}{{Open access}} Modern Screen called the film a "lavish production" and awarded high marks to Bennett and the rest of the cast, stating: "The star and an excellent cast imbue the old tale of artists and models with an up-to-date flavor, and the problem presented is one that will ever hold popular appeal."{{cite news|newspaper=The Modern Screen Magazine|title=Modern Screen Reviews: The Common Law|date=August 1931|page=82|url=https://archive.org/stream/modernscreenmaga02unse#page/n215/mode/2up}} Another favorable review was offered by Motion Picture Daily, calling it a "sophisticated drama" and praising the performances of Bennett and McCrae, although the publication advised that the film was not suitable for children.{{cite news | newspaper=Motion Picture Daily|title=Looking 'Em Over: 'The Common Law'|date=June 20, 1931|page=14|url=https://archive.org/stream/motionpicturedai30newy#page/126/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} Photoplay called the film a "poor adaptation of Robert Chamber's best seller."{{cite news|newspaper=Photoplay|title=The First and Best Talkie Reviews!|date=August 1931|page=58|url=https://archive.org/stream/photo41chic#page/n205/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} Screenland listed the film among its "Six Best Pictures of the Month" in October 1931, with Bennett's performance among the ten best.{{cite news|title=Reviews of the Best Pictures|newspaper=Screenland|date=October 1931|pages=60–61|url=https://archive.org/stream/screenland23unse/screenland23unse#page/n707/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} Silver Screen magazine awarded the film a "good" rating.{{cite news|newspaper=Silver Screen|title=Silver Screen's Reviewing Stand|date=September 1931|page=42|url=https://archive.org/stream/silverscreen01unse#page/n629/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}}

According to RKO records, the film turned a profit of $150,000. The financial success of the film set a new weekly record for RKO theaters,{{cite news|newspaper=The Film Daily|title=Current Week's Grosses in RKO Houses Sets Record|date=August 1931|page=4|url=https://archive.org/stream/filmdailyvolume55657newy#page/358/mode/2up/search/%22The+Common+Law%22}} but The Common Law was among the few financial successes for RKO in 1931.{{cite book|title=The RKO Story|last1=Jewell|first1=Richard B.|last2=Harbin|first2=Vernon|publisher=Arlington House|year=1982|place=New York|page=37|ISBN=0-517-546566}}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|The Common Law (1931 film)}}

• {{IMDb title|id=0021756|title=The Common Law}}
• {{TCMDb title|id=71337}}
• {{AFI film|5635}}

{{Paul L. Stein}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Common Law (1931 film), The}}

Category:1931 films

Category:1931 romantic drama films

Category:American black-and-white films

Category:American romantic drama films

Category:Films based on American novels

Category:Films based on works by Robert W. Chambers

Category:Films directed by Paul L. Stein

Category:Films set in Paris

Category:RKO Pictures films

Category:Films scored by Arthur Lange

Category:1930s English-language films

Category:1930s American films

Category:English-language romantic drama films